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Boje, Johannes

    Date of birth:
    June 23rd, 1901 (Niebüll/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
    Date of death:
    June 26th, 1944 (Ostrov/Belarus, Soviet Union)
    Nationality:
    German

    Biography

    Promotions:
    August 1st, 1943: Hauptmann;
    April 20th, 1940: (RDA April 1st, 1940 - 114);
    April 8th, 1942: Oberstleutnant (RDA April 1st, 1942 - 743);
    July 1st, 1943: Oberst (RDA - 39b).

    Career:
    October 15th, 1918: preußischen Armee;
    ?: Landespolizei;
    August 29th, 1935: Wehrmacht;
    October 15th, 1935: Chef 4. (MG) Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 16;
    October 1st, 1936: Chef 8. (MG) Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 16;
    November 10th, 1938: Chef 1. Kompanie / MG-Bataillon 31, Tapiau;
    ?: Chef 4. Kompanie / Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 1;
    ?: Chef 1. Kompanie / MG-Bataillon 31;
    October 15th, 1939: Chef 1. Kompanie / Fla-Bataillon 31;
    February 28th, 1940: Stab II. Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 699;
    May 16th, 1940: Führer III. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 212;
    ?: Chef 1. Kompanie / Fla-Bataillon 31;
    ?: Fla-Ersatz-Kompanie 31;
    September 1st, 1941: Stab / Fla-Bataillon (mot.) 610;
    ?: Kommandeur Fla-Bataillon (mot.) 610;
    October 21st, 1942: Führer Reserve OKH;
    November 28th, 1942: Kommandeur Grenadier-Regiment 37;
    January 1944 - May 1944: Divisionsführer.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    November 25th, 1939
    Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    June 21st, 1940
    Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberst (Colonel)
    Awarded on:
    August 27th, 1943
    Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Oberst (Colonel)
    Unit:
    Kommandeur, Grenadier-Regiment 37, 31. Infanterie-Division, Heer
    Awarded on:
    January 11th, 1944
    Starting on the 07.11.1943, Grenadier-Regiment 37 was deployed west of the Dnieper river (specifically south of Cholmetsch) in the sector of the 31. Infanterie-Division. On the 10.11.1943 the Soviets attacked and broke through following a one-hour drumfire. Although the regimental commander, Oberst Boje, had not yet completely recovered from injury he returned to his unit in this pressing hour. In the following days he would fight alongside his men with a weapon in hand during the fierce defensive fighting.

    During this time he personally led a counterthrust against the village of A., which was cleared out along with its garrison of 5-600 Soviet troops. Oberst Boje reordered the defenses here and immediately established contact with the right neighbour. By doing this he prevented the Soviets from getting into the rear of 2 Divisionen and rolling up the right neighbour’s strongpoint. His holding of the B-Stellung was decisive for the movements on the following days and the fate of the 31. Infanterie-Division.

    Oberst Boje was subsequently awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions here.
    Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

    Sources

    Photo